Dead Kennedys Biography
The following biography
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Wikipedia.org
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Free Encyclopedia.”
The Dead Kennedys were a punk rock
band from San Francisco, California. Attacking assumptions of the political left
and right with humor, their music mixed arty elements of English punk with the
energy of the American punk scene. Lead singer Jello Biafra was also responsible
for releasing many other punk and alternative bands on his Alternative Tentacles
record label.
* * * *
History
The Dead Kennedys formed in June
1978, after guitarist Ray Pepperell (under the pseudonym East Bay Ray)
advertised for band mates. The band consisted of Jello Biafra on vocals, bassist
Klaus Fluoride, and drummer Ted (Bruce Slesinger) and was initially known as
"The Sharks". They played numerous shows at local venues, and in June of 1979,
released their first single, "California Über Alles", on Alternative Tentacles.
They followed with a well received east-coast tour.
Prior to the release of their debut
album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, Dead Kennedys were invited to perform
at the Bay Area Music Awards in front of music industry big-wigs to give the
event some "new wave credibility" in the words of the organizers. The day of the
show was spent practicing the song they were asked to play, the underground hit
"California Über Alles". In typically subversive, perverse style, the band
became the talking point of the ceremony when after about 10 seconds into the
song, Biafra said "HOLD IT! We've gotta prove that we're adults now. We're not a
punk rock band, we're a new wave band." The band, who all wore white shirts with
a big, black S painted on the front, pulled black ties from around the backs of
their necks, to form a dollar sign, then tore into the previously unheard "Pull
My Strings", a barbed, satirical attack on the ethics of the mainstream music
industry. As well as containing the lyrics "Is my cock big enough, is my brain
small enough, for you to make me a star", the song also sent-up The Knack's
biggest new wave hit, "My Sharona". The song was never recorded in the studio
but this performance, the first and only time the song was ever performed, was
released on the posthumous compilation album Give Me Convenience or Give Me
Death... and the band was never invited to play the awards show ever again.
After their debut album, drummer
Ted was replaced with D.H. Peligro. Throughout the 1980s, they toured all over
the United States as well as Europe, gaining a large following in the
underground music scene. The EP In God We Trust, Inc. (1981) and album Plastic
Surgery Disasters (1982) showed a development in musical style, and their music
became a political force, pitting itself against rising elements of American
social and political life such as the religious right and Ronald Reagan.
The release of the album
Frankenchrist (Alternative Tentacles; Virus 45) in 1985 caused a fervor with the
newly formed PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center), and in 1986, the Dead
Kennedys were brought to trial for "distribution of harmful matter to minors"
due in part to an H.R. Giger illustration included with the album. Biafra says
that during this time government agents invaded and searched his home. The band
members were each faced with up to a year in jail and a $2000 fine. In 1987, the
charges were dropped after a three-week trial. The album, however, was banned
from many record stores nationwide.
After the release of Bedtime for
Democracy in late 1986, the band called it quits. Biafra went on to become a
highly active political force, appearing on numerous television shows and
releasing a number of spoken-word albums.
Internal conflicts
It was discovered in the late 1990s
that there were issues with the payments each band member had received from
their record label Alternative Tentacles. It was claimed that Biafra had
conspired to pay less than appropriate royalty rates to the band members. Ray,
Peligro and Flouride attempted to resolve the matter, but the dispute led to the
courts, where Biafra was found guilty. He had to pay the outstanding fees, and
was forced to hand over the rights to the majority of Dead Kennedys' back
catalogue to the three, who found new distribution through another label.
This dispute was hotly contested by
all concerned who felt passionately for their cause, and the case caused minor
waves within punk circles. Ultimately it has led to a souring of relationships
with the erstwhile band-mates, who still have not resolved their personal
differences, as of 2005.
Reformation
In 2001, Ray, Peligro and Flouride
reformed the group with Brandon Cruz taking Biafra's role as vocalist (due to
the breakdown in communications detailed above). There has been much debate as
to whether this is a reformed Dead Kennedys, or some form of tribute band,
however they have played under the group Dead Kennedys "Dead Kennedys" as well as the
variant "DK Kennedys" (to make the distinction between the original line up
including Biafra). Many promoters simply advertise them as "Dead Kennedys"
regardless. The reformed group has played across the continental United States,
Europe, Asia, South America, and the Russian Federation.
More recently, Cruz was replaced by
Jeff Penalty as lead vocalist, and due to personal circumstances Peligro has
been replaced by Steve Wilson in summer 2005 appearances (but the band hopes to
have Peligro back soon).
* * * *
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URL of Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Kennedys
Date Article Copied:
July 11, 2005
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